PASADENA, Calif., Dec. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nissan Chemical's Pasadena facility is pleased to announce it has been recognized for exemplary efforts in improving its environmental, health, safety and security by the Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA), a trade association representing batch, custom and specialty chemical manufacturers.

Nissan Chemicalparticipates in SOCMA's ChemStewards® program, which encourages companies to operate their facilities in an environment that guarantees safety and environmental compliance to all stakeholders.

Nissan Chemicalaccepted a Silver Performance Improvement Award at SOCMA's 91st Annual Dinner on December 10 in New York City. This is the first year Nissan Chemical has received the award. Nissan Chemical President Bob Griffith accepted the award on behalf of the company at the awards dinner.

Nissan Chemicalwas recognized for its successful efforts to continually improve product stewardship, safety and security within the plant and also within the local community. Chemical products are indispensable in our daily lives, but require careful handling. With the increasing concern for the environment and safety, chemical companies around the world have begun to take voluntary measures to assure safety and health and minimize environmental impact throughout the entire process of chemical product development, use and disposal.

Nissan Chemical aims to reduce, reuse and recycle raw materials through the development of environmentally friendly products from the design stage. The company also sets environmental preservation targets that are easy for outside observers to understand. Nissan Chemical plans to strengthen efforts to more closely communicate with local governments and residents, as well as nearby corporations, by exchanging opinions on the environment and conducting guided tours of its factories.

"We are extremely proud of the hard work our employees have done on our EHS&S program," said Griffith. "This award reflects our commitment to constant improvement for our products, our workers and our neighbors in the community."

"In today's business world it is incumbent upon companies to be good environmental stewards in order to ensure the safety and security of not only their employees but the community in which they live. We congratulate Nissan Chemical Houston Corporationand its employees on this achievement, and we encourage them to continue these efforts through the ChemStewards performance improvement program," said SOCMA President & CEO Lawrence D. Sloan.

About SOCMA

SOCMA is the only U.S.-based trade association dedicated solely to the batch, custom and specialty chemical industry. Since 1921, we have represented a diverse membership of small, medium and large chemical companies, making us the leading authority on this sector. SOCMA has a global membership of 220 companies, which employ more than 46,000 workers in the U.S. alone. The value of the products and services provided by SOCMA members is $24 billion, and the industry's impact on the U.S. GDP is upwards of $2.9 trillion. For more information on our services and products, please visit www.socma.com.

ChemStewards® is SOCMA's flagship environmental, health, safety and security (EHS&S) continuous performance improvement program. ChemStewards was created from industry's commitment to reducing our environmental footprint. Industry created ChemStewards to meet the unique needs of the batch, custom and specialty chemical industry. As a mandatory requirement for SOCMA members engaged in the manufacturing or handling of chemicals, ChemStewards is helping participants reach for superior EHS&S performance. To learn more, visit www.chemstewards.com.

About Nissan Chemical

Nissan Chemical Industries was founded in 1887 as the first chemical fertilizer manufacturer in Japan. Since then, Nissan Chemical has continuously aimed at innovation and now manufactures outstanding products in areas such as industrial chemicals, agrochemicals, fertilizers and pharmaceuticals. Nissan Chemical has been a leading producer of colloidal silica since 1951. We have a wide manufacturing presence in Japan; as well as an extensive plant and Technical Services Laboratory in Houston, Texas. Nissan Chemical Houston Corporation was established in 1996.